Where to Store my Worm Bin...Need Help!

16 years ago

I've done all the research and was going to go out today to build a Worm Bin to help give my Earth Machine a rest every once in a while and I know my veggies will love the worm castings! However, from what I've read the worm bins need to be kept where the temp is between 55-75 degrees. I was planning on keeping it in my garage but now I'm not so sure that's a good idea since it gets HOT in there in the summer time.. I'm located in Punta Gorda. Does anyone have a bin in their garage that has stayed cool? or do you know of a better place to keep it?

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Comments (9)

tony_k_orlando
16 years ago
I know someone here in Orlando that has their wormbin in the kitchen. It is one of the more decorative ones and there is no problem with odor or anything else.

I wouldnt mind having one like hers, but they are quite costly.
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joycrick
16 years ago
I keep mine outside in deep shade. I've had it going for 5 years and those worms do produce beautiful organic fertilizer and FAST. They eat all the scraps I can give them, and I alos bring home all the coffee grounds from the office every day. I have the native Florida red wigglers and as long as I keep it moist, but not wet and out of the sun they seem like they are very happy.
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"What triggered this catastrophe?" Let me count the ways. 1. Too much food. 2. Compounded by Waaaaay too little bedding. 3. Further compounded by 107F! 4. As luck would have it a Black Solider Fly Larvae found a perfect place to lay her eggs. 5. As her cute litter buggers grew they ate all the food the worms had not gotten to yet. This quickly released a lot of moisture into the bin. 6. The wet hay and rabbit droppings sealed oxygen from the bin. 7. The moisture turned acidic and released volatile things. 8. Leaving little oxygen or more likely a build up of carbon dioxide in the bin. 9. One worm sub-combed first adding its body moisture to the volume. Then two. Then four. ... On the negative side. Expect to do this again. Don't ask how I know. On the plus side you are now the proud owner of a well functioning Black Solider Fly Larvae Bin. BSFL will eat more faster. BSFL can handle more heat. BSFL are free to you. BSFL want to work for you. They volunteered! Some people feel BSFL are cuties and have more personality than worms. But pay no mind to poster Darth 5. Maybe these are your people: http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/forum/ Here is a link that might be useful: That Was Easy!
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olyagrove
16 years ago
Hey guys...where can I find Florida red wigglers?
Olya
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tony_k_orlando
16 years ago
Olya,

u can find them in the ground OR at a bait shop.
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florida_mimi
Original Author
16 years ago
okay I now have a project for tomorrow :) The DH and I moved down here last February from the great wormy north and it never occured to me that there were worms that were native to Florida.. I've seen a lot of grubs when I was digging in my sand box of a back yard. :) Thank you for your info!
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wanna_run_faster
16 years ago
Speaking of worms, I found a ton surrounding my areca palm. I couldn't dig more than 2 inches without finding at least a couple! I guess it's just a wormiful location!
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goldenpond
16 years ago
I have been teaching how to raise worms in bins so I will try to help.Yes you can keep the worm bin in the garage if you remember to fluff the ingredients every so often so air gets to them Remember at the landfill they compact things and no air gets to it which makes things more difficult to decompose. A garden tool or kitty litter scoop is handy for fluffing.Keep a 5 gallon bucket of water(no chlorine)nearby and strip newspaper in that. When you add food be sure to have it covered with 3 inches of the wet paper. You can let the paper soak over night. If you have plenty of paper move it aside add food replace paper.
Red Wigglers are NOT your ordinary garden worm. Just like there are parakeets who do well in cages there are pelicans and eagles who do not. Red wigglers do VERY well in a bin eating garbage and having babies.Do not add garden worms to your red wigglers.
If you notice your bin is overheating you can add a frozen bottle of water to it wrapped in moist paper.Allow the worms to come to it do not put it directly ON them. Also if the lid is really full of condensation you can take it off a short while(if it is inside) Mine is right next to my wash room door so I pass it as I enter from the garage and remember to put it back on and check them.
Don't forget the vermicomposting forum is great too.
Good luck wiggling!
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florida_mimi
Original Author
16 years ago
I'm going to call the bait shops today but I found these two suppliers here in Florida for Red Wrigglers.
www.vermitechnology.com
www.kazarie.com

I had originally gone in to the vermicompsoting forum but I didn't see a lot of Florida people posting there. But I will def. check it all out again!
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goldenpond
16 years ago
Well you are right about checking the FL forum on this matter considering ourtemperature and humidity but the vermicomposting may help with other questions.
You can also buy worms online. check
Our Vital Earth
They have a worm farm in APOPKA and are great people.But for smaller amounts bait shops have them.I went to the Shrimp Spot in Fort Pierce and he said he never heard them called RED wigglers just wigglers.He tried to sell me his imported from France worms(imagine,designer worms!)but they do not serve the same purpose and are thought to be invasive.
For those of you who just want to attract more garden worms consider placing wet newspaper under your mulch.The garden variety worms will happily make their home there utilizing your papers.Great recycling tip too!
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